Published: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 10:55 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 10:55 p.m.

LAKELAND | Lakeland police officials are still not sure what caused the Sunday crash between a 2008 Lamborghini and a 2013 Nissan that resulted in two deaths and life-threatening injuries for another person.

About 3 p.m., the Lamborghini crossed over the grass center median on University Boulevard, a four-lane divided road completed last year to provide access to Florida Polytechnic. It drove into the path of a white 2013 Nissan GT-R driven by Chi Yan Chan, 43, of St. Petersburg. The two vehicles collided in the eastbound lanes, according to police.

Chan also was transported to Lakeland Regional with life-threatening injuries, according to Lakeland police spokeswoman Ann Dinges.

Chan's passenger, Tan Phan, 22, of Pinellas Park, was taken to Lakeland Regional where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released, police said.

Phan told Bay News 9 that Chan was friends with Hampton and Beene. He and Chan had driven Sunday to Polk County to hang out and watch the Super Bowl. At some point, Phan said, someone came up with the idea to go cruising, and five or six cars headed out for a drive.

"We were cruising and I saw the green Lamborghini coming from the opposite lane," Phan said. "In the blink of an eye we crashed — that's how fast it was."

Phan said no one was racing, and that he and Chan were going about 50 mph, but he wasn't sure just how fast the Lamborghini was going.

"Fast, that's all I can say."

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Samuel Hampton was adopted as a child by Lynn Hampton, who, along with her twin sister, Leigh Hampton, are prominent Winter Haven residents.

"I have known the Hamptons for a very long time," Judd said. "Sam was the light of her life. It just breaks my heart."

Judd said one of the Samuel Hampton's hobbies was collecting sports cars.

Cindy Kuck, a friend of the Beene family, said Tiffany Beene grew up in Guatemala, the daughter of Rocky and Michael Beene who founded the Faith in Action missionary group that continues to do missionary work in Guatemala.

Kuck said Beene graduated from Southeastern University in Lakeland, and that the Beene and Hampton families have been close for a long time.

"Sam was like a brother to her," Kuck said.

"She's left her handprint on many lives."

When an LPD investigator arrived at the scene Sunday, about seven vehicles were parked on the roadside, all high end, including Ferrari, Audi and Mercedes, said Capt. Rick Taylor of LPD.

"They were definitely vehicles capable of being used for road racing," Taylor said.

However, he said, an investigator found no evidence or witnesses to conclude the drivers were racing.

The crash happened in the future area of Florida Polytechnic.

Some motorists who want to speed will seek out roads in new developments because of the lack of traffic, Taylor said.

Police keep an eye on those areas because of that activity.

"In their mind, it's a safe place to go," he said.

"No matter what, it's illegal."

Officers performed extra patrols in that area last year after bicyclists complained of speeders and have given out 84 tickets in the area, about 22 for speeding.

[ Clifford Parody can be reached at clifford.parody@theledger.com or 863-802-7516. Matthew Pleasant can be reached at matthew.pleasant@theledger.com or 863-802-7590. ]

<p>LAKELAND | Lakeland police officials are still not sure what caused the Sunday crash between a 2008 Lamborghini and a 2013 Nissan that resulted in two deaths and life-threatening injuries for another person.</p><p>Samuel Jonathan Hampton, 24, of Winter Haven and Tiffany A. Beene, 24, of Kissimmee died Sunday evening at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Hampton owned the 2008 Lamborghini but Beene was driving.</p><p>About 3 p.m., the Lamborghini crossed over the grass center median on University Boulevard, a four-lane divided road completed last year to provide access to Florida Polytechnic. It drove into the path of a white 2013 Nissan GT-R driven by Chi Yan Chan, 43, of St. Petersburg. The two vehicles collided in the eastbound lanes, according to police.</p><p>Chan also was transported to Lakeland Regional with life-threatening injuries, according to Lakeland police spokeswoman Ann Dinges.</p><p>Chan's passenger, Tan Phan, 22, of Pinellas Park, was taken to Lakeland Regional where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released, police said.</p><p>Phan told Bay News 9 that Chan was friends with Hampton and Beene. He and Chan had driven Sunday to Polk County to hang out and watch the Super Bowl. At some point, Phan said, someone came up with the idea to go cruising, and five or six cars headed out for a drive.</p><p>"We were cruising and I saw the green Lamborghini coming from the opposite lane," Phan said. "In the blink of an eye we crashed — that's how fast it was."</p><p>Phan said no one was racing, and that he and Chan were going about 50 mph, but he wasn't sure just how fast the Lamborghini was going.</p><p>"Fast, that's all I can say."</p><p>Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Samuel Hampton was adopted as a child by Lynn Hampton, who, along with her twin sister, Leigh Hampton, are prominent Winter Haven residents.</p><p>"I have known the Hamptons for a very long time," Judd said. "Sam was the light of her life. It just breaks my heart."</p><p>Judd said one of the Samuel Hampton's hobbies was collecting sports cars. </p><p>Cindy Kuck, a friend of the Beene family, said Tiffany Beene grew up in Guatemala, the daughter of Rocky and Michael Beene who founded the Faith in Action missionary group that continues to do missionary work in Guatemala.</p><p>Kuck said Beene graduated from Southeastern University in Lakeland, and that the Beene and Hampton families have been close for a long time. </p><p>"Sam was like a brother to her," Kuck said. </p><p>"She's left her handprint on many lives."</p><p>When an LPD investigator arrived at the scene Sunday, about seven vehicles were parked on the roadside, all high end, including Ferrari, Audi and Mercedes, said Capt. Rick Taylor of LPD. </p><p>"They were definitely vehicles capable of being used for road racing," Taylor said.</p><p>However, he said, an investigator found no evidence or witnesses to conclude the drivers were racing. </p><p>The crash happened in the future area of Florida Polytechnic. </p><p>Some motorists who want to speed will seek out roads in new developments because of the lack of traffic, Taylor said. </p><p>Police keep an eye on those areas because of that activity.</p><p>"In their mind, it's a safe place to go," he said. </p><p>"No matter what, it's illegal."</p><p>Officers performed extra patrols in that area last year after bicyclists complained of speeders and have given out 84 tickets in the area, about 22 for speeding.</p><p>[ Clifford Parody can be reached at clifford.parody@theledger.com or 863-802-7516. Matthew Pleasant can be reached at matthew.pleasant@theledger.com or 863-802-7590. ]</p>